Amosi is “I greet you” in Luo.

I am now living amongst people from the Luo tribe or aka Obama’s tribe. Luo is a difficult language to pick up because the words are very long with sounds that I am not accustomed to making. I’m trying to learn 2 Swahili words a day because it is much easier to learn and more widely used.

I live in Kunya village on the edge of Lake Victoria. I have a cement hut with a nice big bed and electricity. I am supposed to have running water for my toilet and shower, but that hasnt happened yet, so Im still using a latrine and bucket bathing. The food is delicious, but we dont have as many vegi’s as I had at Emmanuels and we eat ugali on a regular basis, which I am not a big fan of. Ugali is mashed up corn that mixed with water makes this sold consistence and then they role it into a ball and eat it.

I am teaching English at Kunya Primary School 3 mornings a week. I enjoy working with the students. On Friday I introduced them to the concept of getting stars and smiley faces on their  work when they do a good job. I couldnt believe how excited they got, one would think it was Christmas morning. Next week I am bringing stickers!

Although I loved seeing the students smiles and bright eyes, it did not last long. Hitting children with sticks as a form of punishment is still used in schools and right after I was finished teaching another teacher came in and smacked kids with a stick on their hands, legs and butts for forgetting to bring their school fees and firewood. I wanted to cry and I had to leave the room or I would have screamed at the teacher. We have been told by our program to walk away from things that we are not accustomed to but are a regular part of Kenyan life, so I did. But later when asked I told the teachers that I would never use a stick on a child and explained to them how we punish children back home.

The other two days of the week I work at the dispensary/clinic weighting patients, dispensing meds and other office tasks.

I have so much more to write but my escort to Kisumu has already finished her time on the internet and I dont want to keep her waiting.

Despite the school incident with the stick I am loving my stay in Kunya.